Whether old or new, no one likes using a slow and sluggish system. So, if you are looking for ways to clean up your PC & boost performance, you are at the right place.
In this post, we will discuss the best ways to get rid of junk files, unwanted data, cache, cookies and clean up Windows 10 machines.
Normally, a computer works flawlessly for 5-1/2 years but, sometimes it slows down much sooner. This not only frustrates the user but also decreases productivity. With that said, if you are looking for ways to delete unnecessary files on Windows 10 & cleanup PC, here they are.
19 Quick & Effective Ways to Clean up disk space on Windows 10
Over time as we use the PC, random files, unused programs, invalid registry entries, and other junk data get accumulated. This takes up storage space and clutters the device. Hence, to keep data organized and free up disk space, cleaning up the PC is required. Here’s how to do that.
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If all this sounds too much and you don’t have time to perform these actions on your own, we suggest using a computer cleanup tool like Advanced PC Cleanup.
This all-in-one system tweaking tool helps perform the following operations –
- Uninstall unwanted apps using Uninstall Manage
- Fix invalid registry entries
- Manage startup items
- Clean Recycle Bin
- Secure system from malicious threats
- Protect users from Identity Theft.
To use this professional clean-up and tune-up tool, click the Download Now button and enjoy an optimized system without any manual intervention.
1. Restart PC
Memory plays an important role in a PC’s health, hence, whenever you face any problem with the system, restarting is recommended. This might sound like an obvious fix, yet we all forget to apply it. So, whenever you need to clean the PC, restart the system to clear out RAM, kill unwanted processes, delete cache consequently getting a semi-clean PC.
2. Delete unwanted apps, software, and files
Next on our list of quick fixes to clean up the system is deleting unwanted apps that take unnecessary space. This helps decrease system overload and free up space.
To uninstall unnecessary apps, navigate to Apps and features > select the unwanted apps and uninstall.
However, if you are short on time and are looking for the best Uninstaller for Windows, we suggest using the Uninstall Apps module offered by Advanced PC Cleanup.
In addition to this, you can check our previous post on the best uninstaller managers for Windows.
3. Clean up disk
Until now Windows 10 is the most intelligent version of the operating system released by Microsoft. Using the built-in Disk Cleanup tool, you can easily clean unnecessary files and improve performance.
To use it, in the Windows search bar type Disk Cleanup > Clean up system files. This will instruct the app to run a thorough scan and check for old updates and log files.
Normally, you can delete these files but remember if you clean Previous Windows installations using this option you cannot roll back the changes.
This means you should use this option only when you are sure.
4. Delete junk files using Storage Sense
To clean up the system and remove unwanted files Microsoft has added a new feature called Storage Sense in Windows 10. Using it you can easily remove unnecessary files and free up disk space. To use it follow the steps below:
1. Press Windows + I > System > Storage
2. Here, you can see Storage Sense is disabled.
3. To enable it toggle the button from left to right
4. Next, click Configure Storage Sense or run it now
5. You will now see two options to free up disk space. You can change them or click the Clean now button to clean up the disk.
6. Once done you will notice a difference. If you want, keep it enabled or disable it.
5. Manage Startup items
When it comes to slow boot time Windows operating systems lag a lot. This happens due to multiple programs running at startup.
To clean this list and to remove unwanted startup items press Ctrl + Alt Delete > Task Manager > More Details > Startup tab
This will show you a list of all programs that run at startup. Select the unwanted items one by one > right-click > Disable.
Restart the system to save changes. This will help clean up the system and enhance performance.
Alternatively, you can also try using Startup Manager.
1. Launch Advanced PC Cleanup > Startup Manager
2. Wait for the process to complete. Startup Manager will now list all applications, processes that run at boot time.
3. Select the unwanted program and hit Trash Bin.
4. Click Yes, when prompted to confirm the action.
Your Windows will now boot faster and no unwanted apps will run at startup.
6. Empty Recycle Bin
When a file is deleted from a Windows machine it does not get erased. Instead, it is moved to the Recycle Bin so that you can restore it. Due to this over time, Recycle Bin takes a lot of space and junk gets accumulated.
Hence, emptying the Recycle Bin is an important step in PC cleaning. To free up space and empty Recycle Bin follow the steps below:
1. Look for Recycle Bin icon on the desktop
2. Double click to open it
3. Here, you will see all the deleted files, cross-check them
4. If you are sure you want to remove all press Ctrl + A to select all files
5. Click Recycle Bin Tools > Empty Recycle Bin
6. This way you can clean deleted files taking unwanted space.
Tip: You can also reduce the size of Recycle Bin and set how often it gets clean automatically. To do so, right-click the Recycle Bin icon present on the Desktop > Properties > Custom Size. Here you can specify the maximum size.
In addition to this, you can use the Recycle Bin option offered by Advanced PC Cleanup.
Launch the best and professional Windows Optimizer > Recycle Bin > wait for it to show scan results > to remove all items click Clean Now.
This is much simpler than the manual steps.
7. Clear browser cache, history, and temporary internet files
When you browse the web, your browser stores search history, cache, and cookies, this helps load the webpage quickly. But over time this information is outdated and slows down page loading time. Therefore, when looking for ways to clean a PC, never overlook clearing browser cache.
To learn more about clearing browser cache read our post.
In addition to this, to decrease file load time, your system also saves cache and this too gets outdated over time. So without thinking too much if you want to clean up Windows, remove the cache.
To do so, you don’t need any technical knowledge; this can be simply done by heading to the temp folder and clearing the browser cache. To do so, follow the steps below:
1. Press Windows + R.
2. In the Run window, type %temp% > ok.
3. This will open the temp folder. If you want to remove all the files press Ctrl + A. Or sort them by date and delete them.
Doing so will clean up the PC and remove temporary unwanted files.
Also, you can use One Click Care to scan the system for all kinds of junk and cache that are slowing down the system.
However, if you think cleaning cache will affect Windows functioning then you are wrong. Cache files are non-permanent and Windows saves them to reduce file access time. But over time as they get old, they are a burden on the system. Hence, to clean up your Windows 10, clearing cache files and all unwanted data is recommended.
Read More: How To Clear Browser Cookies And Delete Browsing History?
8. Uninstall obsolete Program Files
When an app is uninstalled manually, its remnants are often found on the machine in the AppData folder. This not only clutters the system but is also responsible for DLL and other errors.
To access the AppData folder, press Windows + R and enter %AppData% > Ok
Here, you will be able to find three subfolders: Local, LocalLow, and Roaming. Go through each folder > select the traces of old files and delete them.
Note: While doing so delete only the files that you are sure about. Do not delete any unknown files.
However, if you want to avoid deleting any crucial file, we suggest running the Junk Cleaner module offered by Advanced PC Cleanup.
Junk Cleaner will efficiently scan the system for junk data and will help clean and optimize the system.
9. Clean thumbnails, log files
Thumbnails, log files are left behind by an app installer when an app is installed. These files are useless and occupy unnecessary space, Hence, when cleaning up the PC removing these unwanted files is a good idea. For this, you can use Junk Cleaner and Temporary Files modules offered by Advanced PC Cleanup or can use Windows built-in tool.
To use it follow these steps:
1. In Windows search bar type Disk Cleanup
2. Select the search result and the drive from which you want to clean thumbnails, log files
3. Check to mark the box net to Thumbnails, Temporary Internet Files, Downloaded Program Files > Ok
4. This will clean all unwanted files and temporary files thereby clearing Windows PC.
10. Refresh Windows 10
After performing all the above steps if you think you don’t need any third-party software or games. This means you only need personal files and want to clean other data, try refreshing Windows.
Note: This will install a clean copy of the latest version of Windows 10 and will remove apps installed on the PC.
To Refresh Windows follow the steps below:
1. Press Windows + I > Update & security
2. Click Recovery in the left pane > “Learn how to start fresh with a clean installation of Windows”
3. You will now be redirected to a new page > scroll down and click Download tool now.
4. This will install the Refresh Windows tool > launch it and start refreshing Windows.
5. When asked whether you want to save personal files or not select Keep personal files only and follow the instructions.
6. You will now get a fresh Windows will your files saved on it.
11. Eliminate large files and old downloads
If you think you have multiple unwanted large files and old downloads on your system, eliminate them to clean Windows 10. To learn how to do that you can read our post on how to find the largest file on Windows 10. This will help delete these files and spring clean the system.
In addition to this, you can use the Old Downloads module offered by Advanced PC Cleanup.
12. Delete System Restore and Shadow Copies
Sometimes just to be extra careful we create multiple System Restore points and shadow copies. This not only clutters the system but also takes unnecessary space. Hence, to clean the system and remove all this unwanted data, removing old system restore points and shadow copies you know are of no use is recommended.
This not only helps in cleaning the system but also helps tune-up and speed up the system.
13. Defrag hard drive
When required Windows 10 automatically runs disk defragmentation tools. But since we are talking about cleaning up Windows 10 machines, missing out on it will not be good. Hence, we suggest defragging the hard drive manually.
This can be done using the built-in tool.
To run Windows inbuilt defrag tool, in Windows search bar, type Defragment and Optimize Drives and press Enter.
Now, select the drive that you want to defrag and wait for the operation to perform.
14. Clean invalid registry entries
Horror stories about cleaning Windows registry are very popular, deleting an incorrect entry or making changes to it without proper knowledge can brick your machine.
But for a clean PC keeping registry optimized is important. As junk entries, if stored in Windows registry slows down the system.
To perform this task, we recommend using the best Registry Cleaner software.
Note: Before making any changes to the registry we recommend taking a complete registry backup. To learn how to do that, read our post on How to backup Windows Registry. This will help undo changes if anything goes wrong.
To use Registry Cleaner, follow the steps below:
1. Launch Advanced PC Cleanup
2. Click Invalid Registry
3. Wait for the scan to finish
4. Afterward fix the errors and reboot the system.
This will help get a clean and optimized PC.
15. Run trusted and reliable security application
Next, to fix common Windows errors caused by viruses, running reliable and trusted antivirus software is suggested. This will help clean up the PC and boost performance.
Note: Instructions to run an antivirus on PC varies from app to app. But you will always find two options – Full and Deep scan. By clicking on either you can scan the system for infections and quarantine them.
For this, you can use Systweak Antivirus, a tool designed to keep your data and Windows protected against the latest threats, exploit protection, and more. Besides this, you can check the list of the best antivirus tools for Windows.
Furthermore, you can use the Malware Protection module, offered by Advanced PC Cleanup.
Note: To make changes to scan settings, click the menu bar > Settings > Scan Area > Malware Scan > and select the areas to scan.
16. Update Windows and installed software
One of the easiest ways to keep systems clean and optimized is to use updated Windows and software. This helps secure the system from the latest attacks and fix bugs responsible for slowing the system.
To verify if you are using the latest version of Windows or not, follow the steps explained below:
Press Windows + I > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for Updates.
Wait for it to look for updates, if any are available, they will be installed automatically.
Once this is done, make sure you are running the latest version of all the installed software. Doing so manually will be time-consuming. Hence, to help save time we recommend using Systweak Software Updater. A tool designed to help update all installed software. Moreover, this tool categorizes software into different categories and cuts down on the manual effort of looking for updates for all installed software.
17. Run built-in Windows troubleshooter
To fix common issues, Windows 10 provides a built-in troubleshooter. To use it, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Press Windows + I > Update & Security > select the Troubleshoot category
Step 2: Next, click the Additional troubleshooters and access all 17 troubleshooters to fix the problem you are facing.
In addition to this, you can also run system maintenance tasks. To do so, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Type Control Panel in Windows search bar.
Step 2: Look for the Troubleshooting option. In case you are unable to locate it click View by and change the setting to Large icons.
Step 4: This will open the system and security troubleshooter.
Step 5: Select the one you wish to run and follow on-screen instructions.
18. Update old drivers
Faulty, corrupt, or outdated drivers can cause serious problems like Blue Screen of Death, malfunctioning of devices, and more. Hence, to avoid such issues, keeping them updated is best. This can be done via the Device Manager, visiting the manufacturer’s site, or can use a driver updater tool.
If you want to update it on your own, we suggest reading our post on how to update drivers manually. However, if you are looking for an easy and reliable way, use Smart Driver Care, one of the best driver updating tools available.
Using it you can scan the system for outdated drivers and update them without any problem. This means you will not have to visit the manufacturer’s website or go through the lengthy process of updating drivers via Device Manager.
You will now see a difference in the system’s performance.
19. Edit graphics settings
Windows 10 is decorative in appearance, but this burdens old PCs hence, if you notice a performance drop due to visual effects, try decreasing the resolution. To do so, follow the step below:
Step 1: Type Control Panel in Windows search bar
Step 2: Click Category next to View by and select Large icons.
Step 3: Hit System option > Advanced system settings > Advanced tab > Settings button shown under Performance..
Step 4: This will open a new window select the radio button next to Adjust for best performance option > Apply > OK.
This will help boost performance. However, if you don’t like this change you can customize the visual effects by clicking the Custom radio button.
Conclusion – How to Clean Windows 10
So, we’ve explained the best and effective ways to spring clean your Windows 10 and boost performance. Using these steps and most importantly using a system optimization tool like Advanced PC Cleanup you can perform all these tasks in a few clicks. This means if you are short on time but want a clean Windows machine you can still get it.
Also, using the Scheduler, you can schedule scans and keep the system optimized.
To use it click the three stacked lines present at top left > Settings > Schedule.
Of course, if you don’t want to use the tool you can perform all the actions manually, but doing so will be time-consuming, and will have to be careful. So, it’s up to you what you decide and how you would want to clean your Windows machine.
Do let us know which method you picked and how well did it help.